Method and an arrangement for checking the operation of breathing equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of checking the working and/or the state of breathing equipment prior to its use, and also to an arrangement for carrying out the method. The breathing equipment includes a control circuit which, in turn, includes a programmed microprocessor ( 7 ), a sensor ( 10 ) mounted in the breathing equipment and connected to the microprocessor, and an indicating arrangement ( 11 ) connected to the microprocessor ( 7 ). The inventive method is characterized by activating the control circuit and therewith measuring or determining at least one functional or state parameter, comparing the measured parameter value with a control value, and indicating an acceptable or unacceptable value in the indicating arrangement ( 11 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method for verifying the functioning and status of a pneumatic system of a breathing apparatus for an irrespirable environment, the method comprising the steps of: 
       providing a breathing apparatus including a gas supply, a closure valve on the gas supply, a pressure regulator downstream of the gas supply, a breathing mask downstream of the pressure regulator, at least one pressure sensor included in the mask, a status indicator, processing means connected to the sensor and the status indicator, and gas lines between the gas supply, the pressure regulator, and the mask;  
       placing the mask on a wearer's face and admitting breathing gas to the inside of the mask;  
       measuring a gas pressure within the mask with the pressure sensor during a length of time;  
       comparing the measured pressure within the mask to an ambient pressure outside the mask; and  
       transmitting a signal to the status indicator to produce an acceptable indication if the measured pressure within the mask remains greater than the ambient pressure during said length of time.  
     
     
       2. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the length of time is at least one breathing cycle. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising measuring at least one functional or status variable, wherein the at least one functional or status variable includes a gas pressure within at least a portion of the gas lines of the breathing apparatus or a pressure over time of a gas pressure within at least a portion of the gas lines of the breathing apparatus. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising the steps of: 
       continuously measuring at least one functional or status variable within the pneumatic system during use of the breathing apparatus;  
       continuously comparing the at least one measured functional or status value to a corresponding predetermined control value for said at least one measured functional or status value with the processor during use of the breathing apparatus;  
       continuously producing an output signal based upon the comparison during use of the breathing apparatus;  
       continuously producing an output signal based upon the comparison; and  
       continuously indicating with the status indicator whether the at least one measured functional or status value substantially corresponds to the at least one predetermined control value for the at least one measured functional or status value during use of the breathing apparatus, thereby continuously indicating functioning or malfunctioning of the pneumatic system.  
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising continuously: 
       sensing data including at least one variable related to a gas pressure within at least a portion of the gas lines of the pneumatic system;  
       transmitting the sensed data to the processing means;  
       comparing the at least one measured variable with a corresponding reference value; and producing with the status indicator an output signal based upon the comparison to verify whether the pneumatic system is functioning or malfunctioning.  
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the irrespirable environment is a gaseous atmosphere. 
     
     
       7. A breathing apparatus for an irrespirable environment comprising: 
       a pneumatic system comprising a supply of breathing gas, a closure valve on the supply of breathing gas, a pressure regulator downstream of the gas supply, a breathing mask downstream of the pressure regulator, and gas lines between the gas supply, the pressure regulator, and the breathing mask;  
       at least one pressure sensor included in the breathing mask;  
       at least one status indicator operative to indicate a functioning, malfunctioning, and status of the breathing apparatus;  
       means for verifying functioning, malfunctioning and status of the breathing apparatus comprising a processor connected to the pressure sensor and the status indicator; and  
       verifying means measuring at least the pressure within the breathing mask, comparing the pressure within the mask with an ambient pressure outside the mask, generating an output signal based on the comparison to verify whether the breathing apparatus is functioning or malfunctioning.  
     
     
       8. The breathing apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising a registering device can operative to register activation of the breathing device, the at least one functional or status variable, and result of comparison of the at least one functional or status variable with a control value. 
     
     
       9. The breathing apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising means for collecting and storing data of the breathing apparatus wherein the data of the breathing apparatus can include at least one functional or status variable within the breathing apparatus. 
     
     
       10. The breathing apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the processor compares the at least one functional or status variable with at least one corresponding reference value and generates an output signal based upon the comparison. 
     
     
       11. The breathing apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the processor transmits the output signal to the status indicator and indicates whether the at least one measured value substantially corresponds to the at least one reference value. 
     
     
       12. The breathing apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the processor records each operation of the breathing apparatus and result of the comparison. 
     
     
       13. The breathing apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one status indicator indicates functioning or malfunctioning of the pneumatic system during use of the breathing apparatus. 
     
     
       14. The breathing apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one functional or status variable comprises at least one variable related to the state of the breathing gas within the pneumatic system. 
     
     
       15. The breathing apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the state of the breathing gas comprises at least one of a pressure of the breathing gas within at least a portion of the at least one gas line and a pressure over time of the breathing gas within at least a portion of the at least one gas line. 
     
     
       16. The breathing apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the status indicator includes at least one light emitting diode mounted on the breathing mask and visible to a wearer of the breathing mask and/or people in the vicinity of the breathing mask. 
     
     
       17. The breathing apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising: 
       a device for registering activation and results of functioning of the verifying means.  
     
     
       18. The breathing apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the status indicator includes at least one light emitting diode mounted on the breathing mask and visible to a wearer of the breathing mask and/or people in the vicinity of the breathing mask. 
     
     
       19. The breathing apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the irrespirable environment is a gaseous atmosphere.